CDC says the unvaccinated should delay domestic trips
Unvaccinated Americans should delay planned trips within the country until fully vaccinated against COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control said Monday in an update to its domestic travel guidance.
“People who are fully vaccinated with an FDA-authorized vaccine or a vaccine authorized for emergency use by the World Health Organization can travel safely within the United States,” the CDC said.
While the health agency warned against travel for unvaccinated people, it said that “if you are not fully vaccinated and must travel, follow CDC’s recommendations for people who are not fully vaccinated,” referencing guidance for unvaccinated domestic travelers outlined on its website that includes steps such as:
Getting a viral test one to three days ahead of travel
Wearing a mask Avoiding crowds
Social distancing from people outside your traveling party
Getting a viral test three to fivedays after traveling
Quarantining for seven days after traveling regardless of a test
Quarantining for 10 days if you do not get a test
Avoiding people at higher risk for 14 days
The CDC’s warning for unvaccinated travelers came after Dr. Anthony Fauci’s remarks Sunday noting that it’s too soon to tell whether the pandemic has eased enough for families to gather for Christmas this year.
Fauci, making the Sunday talk show rounds, said on CBS News’ “Face the Nation” that Americans first need to focus on lowering the number of new infections and hospitalizations. The best way to do that: vaccination and booster shots, he said.
“We’ve just got to concentrate on continuing to get those numbers down and not try to jump ahead by weeks or months and say what we’re going to do at a particular time,” Fauci said. “Let’s focus like a laser on continuing to get those cases down.”